User's Manual

Choosing an Embedded Linux-Based Deployment Method 53

CD-Based Local Deployment for Embedded Linux

The general CD-based deployment process includes the following steps:

Copy the DTK ISO image into a share.

Modify the appropriate section in the

isolinux

isolinux.cfg

file.

Reburn the contents into a CD (which will be the master CD).

Boot the target server from the master CD.

The DTK startup phase mounts the CD.

The DTK startup phase runs the script (name specified in the

isolinux.cfg

file) from the CD.

This deployment method is the easiest to assemble, but is the least flexible. Any change to the system

configuration, for example, requires the creation of a new bootable CD. This method does not provide a

writable media making it necessary to use predefined and tested configuration files.

Creating a Bootable CD

Bootable CDs can be created using any commonly available CD burning software in a two-part process

that requires a self-bootable ISO image with drivers that load from system files. When you create a

bootable CD, this image is supplied to the CD burning software along with the complete deployment

directory structure, which includes all necessary supporting files to perform the deployment. The CD

burning software creates an image of the self-bootable ISO image and the deployment files on the CD.

NOTE: See "Running Deployment Scripts Using DTK and Embedded Linux" for more information about creating an

embedded Linux-bootable CD.

Using DTK Utilities and Scripts From a Bootable CD

The bootable CD can be configured to start and execute the master deployment file during the booting

process. The master deployment file performs all necessary pre-operating system configuration tasks and

then installs the operating system from the files in the deployment directory structure on the CD.

NOTE: You must write the master deployment file. This file is not provided with the sample scripts.

NOTE: You must create a RAMDISK for temporary data storage when using a bootable CD for a local deployment.

Creating a Customized Bootable CD

See "Running Deployment Scripts Using DTK and Embedded Linux" for details on how to create a

customized version of a single embedded Linux image that can work across all PowerEdge systems.

Using DTK Utilities and Scripts From a Customized Bootable CD

After the customized bootable embedded Linux CD is created, IT administrators can take advantage of

the sample scripts to automate the entire deployment process. In this purely CD-based deployment, it is

necessary to add the operating system installation files on the CD media.